"I see, Adam, that something has occurred, and that you have much to tellme."
"That is so, sir. I suppose I had better begin by telling you all Iknow--all that has happened since I left you yesterday?"
Accordingly Adam gave him details of all that had happened during theprevious evening. He confined himself rigidly to the narration ofcircumstances, taking care not to colour events by any comment of hisown, or any opinion of the meaning of things which he did not fullyunderstand. At first, Sir Nathaniel seemed disposed to ask questions,but shortly gave this up when he recognised that the narration wasconcise and self-explanatory. Thenceforth, he contented himself withquick looks and glances, easily interpreted, or by some acquiescentmotions of his hands, when such could be convenient, to emphasise hisidea of the correctness of any inference. Until Adam ceased speaking,having evidently come to an end of what he had to say with regard to thissection of his story, the elder man made no comment whatever. Even whenAdam took from his pocket Lady Arabella's letter, with the manifestintention of reading it, he did not make any comment. Finally, when Adamfolded up the letter and put it, in its envelope, back in his pocket, asan intimation that he had now quite finished, the old diplomatistcarefully made a few notes in his pocket-book.
"Your narrative, my dear Adam, is altogether admirable. I think I maynow take it that we are both well versed in the actual facts, and thatour conference had better take the shape of a mutual exchange of ideas.Let us both ask questions as they may arise; and I do not doubt that weshall arrive at some enlightening conclusions."
"Will you kindly begin, sir? I do not doubt that, with your longerexperience, you will be able to dissipate some of the fog which envelopscertain of the things which we have to consider."
"I hope so, my dear boy. For a beginning, then, let me say that LadyArabella's letter makes clear some things which she intended--and alsosome things which she did not intend. But, before I begin to drawdeductions, let me ask you a few questions. Adam, are you heart-whole,quite heart-whole, in the matter of Lady Arabella?"
His companion answered at once, each looking the other straight in
theeyes during question and answer.
"Lady Arabella, sir, is a charming woman, and I should have deemed it aprivilege to meet her--to talk to her--even--since I am in theconfessional--to flirt a little with her. But if you mean to ask if myaffections are in any way engaged, I can emphatically answer 'No!'--asindeed you will understand when presently I give you the reason. Apartfrom that, there are the unpleasant details we discussed the other day."
"Could you--would you mind giving me the reason now? It will help us tounderstand what is before us, in the way of difficulty."
"Certainly, sir. My reason, on which I can fully depend, is that I loveanother woman!"
"That clinches it. May I offer my good wishes, and, I hope, mycongratulations?"
"I am proud of your good wishes, sir, and I thank you for them. But itis too soon for congratulations--the lady does not even know my hopesyet. Indeed, I hardly knew them myself, as definite, till this moment."
"I take it then, Adam, that at the right time I may be allowed to knowwho the lady is?"
Adam laughed a low, sweet laugh, such as ripples from a happy heart.
"There need not be an hour's, a minute's delay. I shall be glad to sharemy secret with you, sir. The lady, sir, whom I am so happy as to love,and in whom my dreams of life-long happiness are centred, is MimiWatford!"
"Then, my dear Adam, I need not wait to offer congratulations. She isindeed a very charming young lady. I do not think I ever saw a girl whounited in such perfection the qualities of strength of character andsweetness of disposition. With all my heart, I congratulate you. Then Imay take it that my question as to your heart-wholeness is answered inthe affirmative?"
"Yes; and now, sir, may I ask in turn why the question?"
"Certainly! I asked because it seems to me that we are coming to a pointwhere my questions might be painful to you."
"It is not merely that I love Mimi, but I have reason to look on LadyArabella as her enemy," Adam continued.
"Her enemy?"
"Yes. A rank and unscrupulous enemy who is bent on her destruction."
Sir Nathaniel went to the door, looked outside it and returned, lockingit carefully behind him.
CHAPTER XX--METABOLISM
"Am I looking grave?" asked Sir Nathaniel inconsequently when here-entered the room.
"You certainly are, sir."
"We little thought when first we met that we should be drawn into such avortex. Already we are mixed up in robbery, and probably murder, but--athousand times worse than all the crimes in the calendar--in an affair ofghastly mystery which has no bottom and no end--with forces of the mostunnerving kind, which had their origin in an age when the world wasdifferent from the world which we know. We are going back to the originof superstition--to an age when dragons tore each other in their slime.We must fear nothing--no conclusion, however improbable, almostimpossible it may be. Life and death is hanging on our judgment, notonly for ourselves, but for others whom we love. Remember, I count onyou as I hope you count on me."
"I do, with all confidence."
"Then," said Sir Nathaniel, "let us think justly and boldly and fearnothing, however terrifying it may seem. I suppose I am to take as exactin every detail your account of all the strange things which happenedwhilst you were in Diana's Grove?"
"So far as I know, yes. Of course I may be mistaken in recollection ofsome detail or another, but I am certain that in the main what I havesaid is correct."